Chicago Electric 69684 Mitersaw Review

The “why pay more?” saw

Need a miter saw? Don’t want to spend a lot of money? Check out this Chicago Electric 69684 miter saw. It has a surprisingly good features-to-dollars ratio.

By the DIY experts of The Family Handyman Magazine:November 2013

Chicago Electric 69684 miter saw.

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Great saw for weekend DIYers

What do you sacrifice for the low price? Surprisingly little.

Most 12-in. sliding miter saws will set you back $450 to $650. So when I saw this Chicago Electric model for under $200, I wondered: What do you sacrifice for that unbelievably low price? The answer is: Surprisingly little. The Chicago bevels left or right 45 degrees; most of the expensive models tilt beyond 45 degrees. It crosscuts boards up to 12 in. wide; that’s an inch or two less than some models. The fence isn’t tall enough for wide crown molding, but I usually screw on a wood “auxiliary fence” for crown anyway. In terms of power and quality of cut, the Chicago’s performance is similar to that of other models I’ve used.

Overall, the Chicago feels a little less beefy than expensive saws, so I suspect it will need adjustments more often and won’t stand up to abuse as well. If I needed a saw that could take daily job site beatings, I’d probably shell out for a more expensive model. But for the weekend workshop cutting I do these days, saving $400 sounds pretty darn good. Get more details on the Chicago Electric 69684, buy it online or find a local retailer at harborfreight.com.